Mechanical glider



Patented Mar. 3, 1931 PATENT OFFICE ALEXANDER BROWN, 01* NEW YORK, N. Y.

MECHANICAL GLIDER Application filed August 23, 1980. Serial No. 477,413.

6 ticle may be supported and to which areciprocating gliding movementmay be 1m:

parted.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a glider which willcause the gliding movements to be smooth and free of jarring action, sothat the object onthe glider will smoothly and easily change-itsdirection of motion without disturbing the person supported thereon.

An apparatus of this character has many advantages some of which may beenumerated as follows:

A person resting either in an upright or an inclinin position is slowlymoved backwardly an forwardly without jar, so that a soothing, restfulmotion is imparted to sooth the nerves and to induce sleep. The motionalso tends to assist peristalsis of the bowels of the infant or patientso as to assist an evacuation.

The machine is harmless and so arranged by a friction action that thereis no danger of contusion, laceration or abrasion of serious nature.

A machine for producing a soothing state of restfulness in infants,adults and aged by a rhythmic gliding motion, thereby producing a statein the human body conducive to relaxation, rest, sleep and the smoothgliding motion by its gentle movement assisting digestion andelimination, contributing toward a condition of well being and goodhealth.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction and combinations and arrangements ofparts, all of which will be more fully hereinafter described and pointedout in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal sectionthrough the center of my improved glider, showing in dot and dash linesthe position of the glider;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device;

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section on the line 33 of Figure 1; and

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in transverse section on the line 4-4 ofFigure 1.

My improved mechanical glider comprises three frames which are indicatedgenerally by the reference characters A, B and C respectively. The frameA constitutes a base, the frame B constitutes a reciprocating member,and the frame 0 constitutes a supporting member for a crib, chair orother device and to which a gliding or reciprocating motion is imparted.

All of the frame-s A, B and C are prefer- 'ably, although notnecessarily, composed of longitudinal and transverse channel-shapedmembers 1 and 2 respectively, and I employ these reference characters 1and 2 to indicate the longitudinal and transverse members of all theframes so as to avoid a multiplicity of reference characters.

All of the longitudinal members 1 and 2 and all of the frames A, B and Care made preferably each of two telescoping members. The sections of thelongitudinal members 1 are given reference characters-3 and 4respectively, and the sections of the transverse members 2 are givenreference characters 5 and 6 respectively.

The telescoping sections 3 and 6 are each formed with a longitudinalseries of openings 7 for the reception of clamping bolts 8, which latterare projected through openings in the members 4 and 5 respectively, andwing nuts 9 are preferably employed and are screwed on the bolts 8 toclamp the frame members in any position of adjustment.

The .channeled longitudinal members 1 of the frame A and certain of thechannel members 1 of the frame G face each other; that is, the flangesof the side members of the frame A extend upwardly and the flanges ofthe side members of the frame C extend downwardly, so that they providefacing tracks for the reception of wheels or rollers 10 connected totelescoping shafts 11 which are mounted in the frame B. The wheels maybe rubber tired and are of such diameter that they constitute the solesupport of the frame C, so that when the frame B is reciprocated thewheels or rollers 10 ride upon the side rails of frame A and impart alongitudinal movement to the frame C.

As a means for transmitting a reciprocating motion to the frame B Iemploy a motor 12 mounted on the base frame A and transmitting motionthrough the medium of a motor shaft 13 with a worm gear 14 thereon meshing with a worm wheel 15 on a crank shaft 16. This crank shaft 16 issupported in suitable brackets 17 and a connecting rod 18 connects thecrank 19 of said shaft 15 with a bracket 20 on the frame B, theconnection between the rod 18 and the rod 20 being a pivotal connectionso that when the crank shaft is turned a reciprocating motion will beimparted to the frame B. A casing 21 may be provided to enclose themotor 12 and other adjacent parts, as clearly illustrated in Figures 1and 2 of the drawings, said casing being provided with a slot 22 throughwhich the rod 18 projects.

The frame B may have any desired number of rollers 10 and it will beunderstood that the rollers 10 support the frame B but are supported bythe frame A, and in turn support the frame C and impart a reciprocatingmovement to the latter. By reason of this means of transmitting areciprocating movement to the supporting frame C, the movement in onedirect-ion comes slowly to an end and slowly starts in the oppositedirection without any appreciable jar to the person supported on thedevice, and eliminating danger of abrasion, contusion or injury.

In order to prevent accidental displacement and ensure a properoperation at all times, cushion blocks 23 are secured on the frame B andare engaged by end transverse members of the frame C, in the event thatsaid frame moves to a position which otherwise might cause the frame Cto ride off the rails 10. It

is, of course, to be understood that these cushions or bumpers 23 do notcome into operation unless there be an over-movement of the frame C ineither direction and are merely to prevent possibility of accidentaldisplacement, or to produce slight jar desirable in special cases.

The frames A and C are connected by resilient members, such as rubberbands 24 or the like. These bands may be positioned around pins on therespectiveframes so that they serve as a shock absorber for lesseningthe jar of the supporting frame at the ends of its throw and ensure aproper return movement. Of course, I do not wish to limit myself to theexact position of the resilient means, or the employment of rubber bandsas other resilient means, such as springs or the like, may be employed.

If desired, the intermediate frame may be operated b any means otherthan the motor so the device will be adapted for uses other than thosespecified,

While I have illustrated what I believe to be the preferred embodimentof my invention, it is to be distinctly understood that various slightchanges may be made with regard to the form and arrangement of partswithout departing from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself tothe precise details set forth but consider myself at liberty to makesuch changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scopeof the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A mechanical glider including a base frame having rails thereon, asupporting frame positioned above the base frame and having railsthereon, an intermediate frame between the first mentioned frames andadapted to be reciprocated, wheels or rollers carried by theintermediate frame and contacting with the rails of both of thefirst-mentioned frames, and means carried. by the base frame for causingreciprocation of the intermediate frame and likewise the supportingframe.

2. A mechanical glider including a base frame having rails thereon, asupporting frame positioned above the base frame and having railstherein, an intermediate frame between the first-mentioned frames andadapted to be reciprocated, wheels or rollers carried by theintermediate frame and contacting with the rails of both of thefirst-mentioned frames, a motor mounted on the base frame, a crank shaftturned by the motor, and a connecting rod connecting the rod of thecrank shaft and theintermediate frame.

3. A mechanical glider including a base frame having rails thereon, asupporting frame positioned above the base frame and having railsthereon, an intermediate frame between the first-mentioned frames andadapted to be reciprocated, and wheels or rollers carried by theintermediate frame and contactin with the rails of both of thefirstmentioned frames, said rails comprising facing channeled bars.

4. A mechanical glider including a base frame having rails thereon, asupporting frame positioned above the base frame and having railsthereon, an intermediate frame between the first-mentioned frames andadapted to be reciprocated, wheels or rollers carried by theintermediate frame and contacting with the rails of both of thefirstmentioned frames, all of said frames composed of longitudinal andtransverse connected bars and each of said bars consisting oftelescoping members, and means for looking the members in variouspositions of adjustment.

5. A mechanical glider including a base frame, a wheeled reciprocatingframe mounted to move on the base frame, and a supporting frame adaptedto receive an article thereon and resting on the wheels of said wheeledframe, and havin friction engagement therewith whereby t e turningmovement .of the wheels imparts a reciprocating movement to thesupporting frame and the article supported thereon, and means forcausing recip rocation of the second frame.

6. A mechanical glider including a supporting frame, wheels on thesupporting frame and ca 'ng the supporting frame, means for rotating thewheels in one direction and for reversing the direction of rotation ofthe wheels so that the supporting frame will be moved back and forth ina limited space, a second frame frictionally restin on the wheels sothat the second frame wil have imparted thereto a reciprocating movementsimilar to but of a greater degree than the supporting frame.

Signed at New York city in the county of New York and State of New Yorkthis 21st day of August, A. D. 1930.

ALEXANDER BROWN.

